News

Diemer Named Great Lakes Regional Men’s/Women’s XC Coach of Year - Kramer Regional Athlete of Year

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Calvin College cross country coach Brian Diemer has been named the Division III Great Lakes Regional Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Coach of the Year. Diemer swept both awards late this afternoon as announced by the United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association.

Despite losing five of its top seven runners from a year ago, Diemer led the Calvin menís cross country team to its 23rd consecutive MIAA title and its 14th consecutive Great Lakes Regional title. At the Great Lakes Regional meet, Diemerís team placed five runners in the top 25 led by sophomore Nick Kramer who took first place individually. At the MIAA Championships, Calvin posted a perfect score of 15 points.

Diemer has also had the Calvin womenís cross country team on top of the Division III Top 35 polls for the last seven weeks. This fall, Diemer led the Calvin womenís cross country team to its fifth consecutive MIAA title and its 21st overall. At the MIAA Championships, Calvin posted a perfect score of 15 points and followed with a first place score of 50 points at the Great Lakes Regional, to win the regional crown for the third-straight year.

In addition, Nick Kramer has been named the Great Lakes Regional Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year by the USTFCCCA. A native of Dyer, Indiana, Kramer became the ninth individual in Calvin menís cross country history to claim a Great Lakes Regional title this past Saturday, running 25:45, nine seconds better than the next fastest runner.

A graduate of Illiana Christian High School, Kramer also took first place at the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletics Association Jamboree and MIAA Championships this fall, garnering MIAA Most Valuable Runner honors.

Both Calvin cross country teams will compete at the NCAA III Championships this Saturday in Cleveland, Ohio. Baldwin-Wallace College will serve as host. The Calvin women’s cross country team will head in ranked number-one while the Calvin men’s cross country team will head in ranked 15th.